US offers Ukraine $1bn loan guarantee: Live news
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the Ukraine crisis. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.
A summary of recent developments:
- A sliver of hope from Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov who says he is urging President Vladimir Putin to continue diplomacy
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is due to visit Belgium, Lithuania and Poland. He is due to meet NATO allies in Brussels.
Here are the latest updates.
Tuesday, February 15
11 mins ago (04:13 GMT)
US offers Ukraine $1bn loan guarantee
The United States is offering Ukraine a sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1bn to help its economy amid pressure from Russia’s military buildup.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the offer ”will bolster Ukraine’s ability to ensure economic stability, growth, and prosperity for its people in the face of Russia’s destabilizing behaviour”.
The US issued three separate $1 billion sovereign loan guarantees to Ukraine between 2014 and 2016m and has also provided more than $2 billion in development assistance to Ukraine since 2014.
38 mins ago (03:46 GMT)
Japan warns of sanctions if Russia attacks
Japan could impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular press conference that while Japan is “strongly seeking” a diplomatic resolution it would take “appropriate steps, including possible sanctions, in response to what has actually happened, and in coordination with the G7 and international community.”
You can read the updates from February 14 here